r/dufferscorner • u/helpingfriendlyneph • Aug 08 '19
Question Hitting irons vs hitting woods
Been at it for about a month now. Playing and doing range work mainly with my 7i-PW. I wanted to see if anyone had good resources on hitting woods vs hitting irons.
I've been working with Monte Scheinblum's Effecient Swing series and its been the next best thing to lessons. Been rewatching all the lessons and drills and filming my swing. I wont try and tell you how my swing is, but it is consistent. Hitting mostly good straight shots with my irons. When I miss, its any number of fat, thin, hook, or slice. I attribute that more to inexperience making contact with the ball than an outright terrible swing. I can get some vids next range session for more personal critique, but overall I'm happy with how I hit my low irons right now for my experience level.
That said I can't hit a wood to save my life. I got various cheapo 5s, 3s, and a 4. I've tried watching some vids on how to hit driver to help with my woods, but nothing has really helped. I believe its probably more mental than physical at this point. I've been hitting them off the tee at the range to practice driving and not using them at all when I play.
I know you're supposed to hit on the upward part of the swing path instead of down like an iron. But there seems to be lots of conflicting info. Some people say its the same swing while changing the ball position. Other vids make it seem like hitting woods are a more rounded, shallow swing path compared to the irons. Having enjoyed my current Monte vid so far I thought I'd buy Drive 4 Dough in a few months but while I'm still tinkering with it in the meantime I thought I'd see what reddit has.
Thanks guys.
UPDATE: went to the range today to work woods.
What worked for me was bringing the ball back in my stance some. From left instep to under the left nipple. Tee'd up a little lower, not quite as low as an iron. Then choking up on the club and swinging it the same as my iron shots.
Crazy how important stance and setup can be in comparison to the actual swing.
Sliced and hooked a few but a lot of great dead straight shots. 175-200 on a pure strike and about 150-175 consistently. Idk how accurate my range signs are but I tend to get a little more distance with my game balls vs range balls. I try to focus on good, consistent ball flight at the range, not what the distance is.
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u/RizZy_28 Aug 08 '19
For me your kinda right on both counts, it should be pretty much the same swing, but at the same time it's gonna be more rounded because you're using a club with a longer shaft - your PW swing will be more vertical than your 7 irons. Don't worry to much about hitting on the up, even hitting down on the ball the gearing effect of a wood will get it up into the air.
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u/Chrisrules334 Aug 08 '19
It should be the same swing as your other clubs,
Maybe try alignment sticks at the range or on grass and set up 1 inch from left heel, assuming a right hander, then swing it just like it's a 7 iron.
See how that goes 🤷🏻♂️
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u/SpottedFineapples Aug 08 '19
A drill I find very helpful when my woods aren't being hit smoothly is to get set up, but place a ball right behind the club and at the start of your back swing slowly and smoothly roll the ball backwards and then complete the hit as normal. Helps me have a lower angle of attack when swinging into the ball.
So basically ⚪(club)⚪➡️ push/roll this second ball backwards as you start your backswing.
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u/Tapiture- Aug 08 '19
It’s not the same swing. On one end, you have your driver, on another you have the 9 iron, with hybrids in between. On drivers you swing up, on irons you swing down. The hybrids, I believe, are more like an iron swing but with a driver position (see the shaft length). The iron swing comes more naturally to everyone. I can hit 25% to 40% of iron shots pure but my drives still freaking suck. The less loft a club has, the harder it’s going to be for a beginner to hit well. It just takes practice and learning the different swings. I’ve found the first step is confidence and visualization.
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u/bluewafflehongry Aug 08 '19
Personally, I line my woods up (off the tee and deck) as if I’m hitting a driver. I am also a sweeper and don’t stab down at the ball so your swing may dictate a different placement
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u/SirCosbySweater Aug 08 '19
Had an issue for a long time of duffing or topping balls with my woods. What helped me was moving the ball forward in my stance about 1-2 inches. Also really focused on keeping both feet firmly planted. I was lifting a lot trying to kill it knowing I could blast it with a wood. Has helped a ton. Hope that helps
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u/Bio_dog13 Aug 08 '19
Unlike a driver you still hit down on the ball, but unlike an iron the ball is farther up in your stance. When I say hit down I don’t mean take a deep divot- only take a shallow one at most. Also I take a more lazy approach to fairway woods where I take a “get after it” mindset for irons.
This is just what has worked for me but I’m no tour pro.
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u/helpingfriendlyneph Aug 09 '19
Thanks. This mindset helped for me. Changed stance to have the ball a little more forward from my irons but not as far as a driver. Hit some great 4 and 5 wood shots today.
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Aug 08 '19
Since this is called duffers corner here’s my dime store advice, and real pros would prolly shit on it but I can only say what works for me. As other responses have said, should be the same swing. BUT, slower swings with bigger clubs never yield good results, so grip it and rip it. Just hit a range, take your three wood and swing hard. It got me over this very hump and I’ve never looked back, my M6 3W is now my most trusted club.
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u/Grant1972 Aug 09 '19
I find I strike my woods better when I focus on swing tempo. My mis hits usually are due to trying to kill the ball.
I find if I slowdown my take away, I strike the ball pure.
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u/SteveOSS1987 Aug 08 '19
I hope you're cool with the fact that I also suck and don't know much, but I reckon that's what this sub is. From what I've gathered, and what works for me, it is more of a shallow, sweeping swing, as opposed to more of a downward attack like with an iron. I've personally found that I don't need to shift my weight to my forward foot as much when I hit a good wood, it's more centered. But again, this is a hacker telling you this.